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CDC’s PulseNet significantly reduces incidence, impact of foodborne illness
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PulseNet prevents an estimated 270,000 cases of foodborne illnesses annually, achieving cost savings of more than $500 million, from relatively modest investments, according to a recent study.
“The PulseNet system exposes food safety risks to the public, thereby giving consumers, industry, and the government valuable information that can be used to reduce foodborne illness,” Robert L. Scharff, PhD, JD, associate professor at The Ohio State University’s Food Innovation Center, and colleagues wrote. “The reduction in health care costs and other economic benefits from the resulting actions are substantial.”
PulseNet, launched by the CDC in 1996, has developed a database of molecular markers for clinical isolates of foodborne pathogens to expedite the identification of outbreaks that previously had seemed to be sporadic cases of illness. This study was designed to estimate the illness reduction and economic impact of the program.
To assess the direct effects of faster identification of outbreaks, the researchers reviewed 15 recalls of ground beef products due to Escherichia coli contamination and recalls related to five major multistate outbreaks of illness due to Salmonella from 2007-2008. They found that faster outbreak responses led to an estimated 2,819 prevented cases in the E. coli outbreaks (90% CI, 2,480 to 6,943) and 16,994 (90% CI, 3,750-33,021) in the Salmonella outbreaks.
PulseNet has been implemented to varying degrees and at different times by the participating states, enabling Scharff and colleagues to compare the effect of implementation and intensity. In analyzing data on illnesses caused by Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria as reported by the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System between 1994 and 2009, they found that states that had adopted PulseNet and those with more intense testing protocols were less likely to see outbreaks of illness.
Based on predicted illness reduction as a result of PulseNet testing, researchers estimated that at least 266,522 illnesses from Salmonella, 9,489 illnesses from E. coli and 56 illnesses due to L. monocytogenes were avoided in 2009.
By preventing the spread of foodborne illness, PulseNet saved an estimated $507 million in medical costs and lost productivity annually and an additional $37 million in direct effects, the researchers reported. The network costs public health agencies approximately $7.3 million per year.
Thomas R. Frieden
“PulseNet has provided an incredible return on investment with hundreds of thousands of people able to stay healthy as a result of this early warning system,” CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, MD, MPH, said in a statement. “Advanced molecular detection, such as whole genome sequencing, is enhancing CDC PulseNet’s ability to save lives right now — and promises to save more American lives in the future.” – by Chris Rosenberg
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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